Do you think the Treaty Of Versailles was fair?

Question

Do you think the Treaty Of Versailles was fair?
why? why not?
what would have happened if the treaty wasnt there?
what else could have been done to punish Germany instead of having this treaty?

Answer 1

No, it wasn't intended to be fair. The dual purposes of the Treaty were to punish the Central Powers for their aggression and to help France, especially, rebuild. And as others have commented, it was written by the victors.

"If the Treaty wasn't there" is an interesting counterfactual. I'm not sure how it could not be there - that's how wars generally end, the the victors in this case wanted a lot.

However, if the Treaty of Versailles had taken a different form - let's say if President Wilson had sickened half a year earlier and had not pushed a punitive agenda, it's possible that we would be looking at a very different world.

For example, a less punitive Treaty might not have bankrupted Germany, which contributed to the development of the National Socialists there about 15 years later.

However, it's doubtful that a less punitive treaty could have taken its place. That's what treaties did. And Versailles removed very little of Germany's traditional lands - focusing instead on taking its colonies for France, England and the new nation of Belgium.

Also, a less punitive treaty might have encouraged a return to militarism by the German state. I am not enough of an economist to argue how the treaty affected Germany's economy (and ability to support a large army) before Hitler's rise to power.

Other punitive measures that might have been taken include large land penalties, foreign occupation, and the stealing of population as slaves or material wealth as booty, both of which had been applied only to non-Europeans for several centuries by that point - at least, to my understanding.

Answer 2

Fairness was not an issue with the treaty of Versailles. The treaty followed the logic of the centuries before, the logic of a permanent hatred and antagonism between Germany and France. Whoever wins a war dictates the conditions of the peace, that was common opinion.

Germany was not solely responsible for the first World War, so it would not have been necessary to "punish" Germany. The first World War was a result of bad diplomacy, bad policy of alliances, and a general self-overestimation, and thinking in warlike categories after a substantial time span of peace. Germany had its share of incompetence and delusions of grandeur at that time but was far from alone in that.

If the treaty had not happened and a peace built on compromise and balance had been achieved instead, German nationalism might have been in check after that, that is true. But it is a matter of speculation, of course. It is a fact that the heavy burden of reparation payments ruined Germany's economy after World War one, and the sudden disappearance of monarchy made people disoriented. Both effects were the groundwork for radicalization and the final rise of the Nazis with the resulting terror.

On the other hand, who can say if people really would have learned ...

Answer 3

The war was caused as much by France as by Germany. World War I started out with large empire thinking that kept bringing European countries to war and ended up changing forever how war was seen.
The treaty was not fair because it expected Germany to assume all the cost and responsibility of the war. It lead straight to World War II because it left little option to Germany. There was no necessity to "punish" Germany, other than to limit its armed forces.
The Marshall plan that came after World War II showed a lot more wisdom - The U.S. understood there would be no lasting peace in Europe unless all the peoples of the continent were allowed some degree of self-determination, freedom and dignity.

Answer 4

The treaty was fair to everyone but Germany. It was a big reason of WWII. If it wasn't there WWII would have been further down the road. WWII was an unavoidable thing in my opinion because Hitler would have still came to power due to the depression that was happening all around the world after WWI and he appealed to the people at this time...who knew he'd be crazy?

Answer 5

leading up to world war one, most nations in europe were still linked to one another by long-held, and very old ties between monarchies... essentially, they were still in a chivalrous society. i dont think the assassination of archduke ferdinand really caused the war, europe was already waiting to explode into war... the nations of europe each had agendas and business to take care of with one another, built up over a long time... the Treaty of Versaille was just another way for France and Britain and their allies to get back at Germany - and a very stupid way to do so, because it led to World War 2.

Answer 6

It probably wasn't fair, but it was certainly a horrible idea and a significant reason why WW2 happened.

The Allied approach after WW2 - a massive reconstruction effort - produced permenant peace. A lesson that should be remembered today.

Answer 7

Fair? It was written by the victors. Fair is the first four letters in the word: Fairytale.

Answer 8

Im not doing your homework for you, and no it was not fair, but what the hell neither is life.

Answer 9

no